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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Today all three posts are from Kelly, the amazing guest blogger we've had here for the month. I've loved having her here, her ideas, her thoughts. It's been a nice breath of fresh air. Today she's got some big questions for you and we'd both love your feed back. Thanks Kelly! I hope you loved your time here as much as I loved having you!

i just want to say thank you to all of you wonderful people. i have so enjoyed my time here at tangled & true. it's been fun sharing a "bit of me" with each of you. if you miss me, feel free to visit me at according to kelly or just spotted, i'd love to hear from you! with that, i'd like to leave you with one of my all-time favorite quotes, hopefully it will give you a little something to think about:

life isn't a destination - it's a journey. we all come upon unexpected curves & turning points, mountaintops & valleys. everything that happens to us shapes who we are becoming. and in the adventure of each day, we discover the best in ourselves. -anonymous.

how much do you pay your baby sitter? since jeff & i have had our little kidlets, we haven't done much "dating." we've made it out the door without any children thanks to our wonderful parents who babysit occasionally. but other than, we don't really get out much. but this past weekend a baby sitter was hired & we went to the movies with my mom and some family friends. on the drive home, we started wondering, how much do we pay? you want to pay enough so that they will want to come back, but you don't want to break the bank... so, how much do you pay your baby sitter?

this morning my nano was missing, (more than likely the work of two little boys.) resulting in the opportunity for me to do a lot of thinking on my morning run. as they say in beauty & the beast "a dangerous past time, i know"... but, today, i probably needed it. lately i've been feeling a bit overwhelmed & i thought the time to ponder & self-reflect might do me some good - i might be able to come up with some solutions. yeah, it didn't really work up out like i planned. i'm still at a total loss & so i turn to you. how do you manage life? okay, i'll admit, that's very broad & a little vague. like all of you, i've got a lot going on in life. someone might look at me & see simply a mother or a wife, but there's definitely more to me than that. i'm also an accountant, cook, daughter, concierge, laundress, sister, secretary, entrepreuner, nanny, therapist, seamstress, friend, chaffeur, director of business development, gardener, personal dresser, decorator, handyman, dog walker, teacher, maid... & those are just the titles that spring to mind quickly. the point being, as i mentioned earlier, i'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. and don't get me wrong, i LOVE my life & wouldn't change it for the world. i'm not at all complaining, i just need help learning to manage it all. i mean, let's be honest here... i only have two kids, neither of them are in school & our only extra-curricular activity is swimming. in a couple of years i may (or may not) have a whole herd of children, i'm sure one or two will be in school & i'm almost 99% sure i'll be driving them to a whole slew of activities. so if i feel like i'm dropping the ball now, i don't even want to think about what it's going to be like then. so what are your thoughts? suggestions? any self-help books i should read?

& while we're on the subject... a little bit of an off-shoot what i'd like to explore involves blogging. more specifically, how do you manage the whole blogging aspect of life? for example, for me blogging is definitely addicitive. i love having a place where i can post my "thoughts & ramblings about life." i love being able to conncect with people - friends, family & people i never would have otherwise met. i love being exposed to new & inspiring ideas & i love the connection i feel to the world around me. but, like everything in life, blogging does come without it's downside. lately i've been using a reader, definitely a handy little tool, but sometimes it can get overwhelming (for lack of a better word) when i sign in & i have 250 new posts to read. plus, i've found myself getting lazy when it comes to commenting, because it takes a little bit more effort. &, as much as i love reading blogs, i have to be careful. for one thing, it's so easy to go click, click, click & suddenly i've wasted hours, just staring at the computer. not to mention, if i let them, sometimes reading blogs can leave me feeling like i suck. (maybe you know the feeling? you aren't talented or creative enough? or you feel like a crappy mom, wife or friend?) anyway i've totally digressed. basically, i'm just interested in how you like to blog. do you post only when the mood strikes? do you read blogs daily, several times a day, a couple times a week? do you like to comment are you a lurker? what are you're favorite things about blogging? anything you dislike about it?

oh wow! this post is much longer & much more intense than i ever intended. hopefully i'll find my nano & will be able to avoid further thinking. in the meantime, what your thoughts on the subject(s)?

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

We've received a lot of birthday invitations this spring/summer as well as having some birthday's of our own, but the question that continually weighs on my mind is, what is a good present to take to a child's birthday party? How much is too much to spend, what is excessive, what is not enough? I am not convinced I know the answer. Is it a toy that they will play with a few times and then it breaks, an outfit or accessory that isn't very fun to open but may be well used, art supplies or a craft.. what are your favorite birthday gifts to have your child give and what are the ones you most enjoy your child receiving?

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

When I saw these incredible robot cupcakes a couple months ago they immediately went into my "save" file. My ideas were swirling to come up with some kind of amazing robot party. I don't even have a little boy yet, but you can be sure, when I do, this party theme is at the top of my list.

Then the other day I was browsing the hostess blog, and found that she had actually planned and executed her own robot party using the same cupcakes. Her tablescape is highly impressive and far surpasses anything I could have ever come up with.

Combined with some cute Robot pins for your goody bags at the end and the robots movie I think it might make a party to be remembered.

Monday, July 28, 2008

I've never been one to get behind the large flower headbands and clips. That's not to say there is anything wrong with them, they just aren't for me. Instead I prefer the clips that are small but make a big statement. I like them relatively simple, hoping they add a little character to what the girls are wearing.

Sally's Clippies has just introduced their new felt clips, and I have to say I am a fan. They aren't too big or too distracting, they look adorable in the girls hair and have already received rave reviews from everyone who has seen them. The come in multiple colors and styles and are sure to add just the right touch to almost any ensemble. The felt clips are soft enough for even the smallest heads, hand-sewn and creative. They are truly my idea of adorable.

have you ever been given a gift that didn't just tug at your heart strings, but pulled & pulled them hard? several years ago i got married... i remember we were at a bridal shower for me. surrounded by many of our nearest & dearest. the next gift in the pile read "love, mom", & i was excited to see what she had chosen for me. a waffle iron? that kitchen-aid i'd been eyeing? bed linens? towels perhaps? you never know what you're going to get from my mom, she's always liked surprising us kids. so, when the present finally arrived in my lap, i tore into it, as eager as a child on christmas morning. totally expecting some BIG item off my registry, you can imagine my surprise when i found a blanket beneath all that beautiful wrapping paper. that surprise quickly changed to joy, love & a plethora of other feelings as i realized what i was holding. i had known she had been working on a special project, but i had had no idea it would be this. (click on picture to enlarge)

now, to the untrained eye, this appears to be simply a blanket, you might even go so far as to call it a quilt. but if you were to really study it, you would realize that it is made of clothes. you might even notice a clothing label or two, perhaps a shirt pocket, a couple of buttons, even a logo or two. and to you, the untrained eye, this might seem a bit odd. but for me, a soon-to-be-bride, it meant the world. for each & every square, each piece of clothing portrayed a memory. there were the pjs my dad wore nearly every day, his work shirts & golf shirts, bits of the shirts he wore to church on sundays... pieces of his life. (click on picture to enlarge)

and once you realize & understand that i knew my dad wouldn't be there with me, celebrating my big day, having this quilt, meant that i would always have a piece of him with me, & that meant more than anything, i'll ever be able to put into words.

just recently, actually for christmas, gavin & owen each received their own special blankets from my mom. once again, the gifts were a total surprise. this time around instead of using clothes, her medium was photos. using pictures of everyone in our family (that she had printed on fabric), she made the boys (& my niece kate too) their own patchwork blankets. the kids spend a little time, every day, just looking, pointing & naming everyone in each of the pictures. now, even though we don't live as close as we like, we always have family with us. (click on picture to enlarge)

it's been said that "our lives are like quilts - bit & pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love." i for one definitely agree, & have at least three quilts to prove it.

Friday, July 25, 2008

As a mother, you quickly learn to be prepared. The diaper bag is always stocked with extra clothing, diapers, wipes, snacks the list goes on. At a moments notice you could need any given number of things. I used to always have a plastic grocery bag or two on hand for dirty diapers, spit-up clothing or wet clothes, it wasn't pretty but it did an okay job of masking odors and keeping other items dry.

Wet happened has given me the perfect solution. No longer do I have plastic bags floating around in diaper bags and purses. Instead a fashionable, reusable wet bag. It folds flat and stores beautifully and covers me from diapers to potty training accidents and everything in between (including wet swimwear from the pool) which I have loved this summer.

The details: Made with a whimsical and thick cotton outer print, then lined with a Polyurethane Laminate. Constructed with the two layers sewn seperately, the zippered top secures contents to keep smells where they belong. Double sewn to help prevent wicking.

wouldn't THESE window boxes look darling on the front of any house? even better, they come in 13 different color & 8 different shapes. what fun it would be to mix and match! they would also be fun inside, perhaps in your office, or a play room? i have so many uses for them swirling around inside my head!

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Yesterday Kelly talked about sending and receiving actual letters in the mail. I couldn't agree more. There is nothing better than seeing my name on an envelope so allow me to introduce you to a new favorite of mine. A Punkin Card Company. The designs are fresh and bright, the card stock corrugated adding texture to the mix and the designs simple and whimsical. Some of my favorites? Light Brown Wheat, In the Jungle, Friends of Nest, and Just a Little Note. Each set retails between $12 and $20 dollars complete with matching envelopes.

If you'd like to make someone's day with a handwritten note, A Punkin Card Company is hoping to help you out. To win one of their amazing stationary sets, leave a comment by midnight Thursday (7/24) and you'll be entered to win one of four sets (lemon lime pictured above). Good Luck and Happy Writing!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Freezer jam is one of my favorite parts of summer. I spotted these jam labels on black*eiffel made by a small company in California (we love jam) and am wanting to make my own version to add life to the strawberry jam sitting in my freezer.

so i could eat last night's dessert for breakfast. (i'm hoping there's enough left over for lunch & dinner too.) recently on vacation, we had bread pudding for dessert. it was so good, we went back the next night for more & then, i even sweet talked my way into a plate for breakfast the following day. ever since then, it's been on mind, so i figured i better make some.

let's face it... in this day & age, the art of a handwritten note is quickly fading away - it's so much easier to send an email or text message. but nothing gives me a bigger thrill than spying an envelope in the pile of mail, with my name addressed on the front, in an actual, real, live person's handwriting, instead the usual computer generated bills i get. my latest favorite paperie designs are products of swanky paper. i'll be the first to admit that i'm a bit biased, because the designer, heather, is a good friend of mine. but seriously, i LOVE all of her designs. they are fun, vibrant & actually make me want to sit down & write someone a card. & she just added a whole slew of new designs that have me absolutely drooling! so take a gander at heather's cute shop. seriously, you'll want to order cards for everyone you know.

actually before i tell you, i think it's imperative that i warn you - i'm not a musical genius. i'm definitely not known for my taste in music, i don't know bands & i'm generally the last to find out about the next big thing. phew! now that that's off my chest...i'm loving my most recent playlist... it's the perfect mix of old & new, a little bit of everything & perfect for every occasion. (click on picture to enlarge... you know, so you can actually read the song titles & artists.)xoxo, K

Thursday, July 17, 2008

i love all things travel related... mini suitcases, vintage luggage labels, old travel postcards & posters. (i think you get the idea.) but most of all, i love maps. big or small, flat or round, i love them all. so it's no surprise to me, that while watching one of my favorite guilty pleasures, the wall map totally caught my eye. (click on the picture to enlarge it.) i've always loved the idea of having a huge wall map... either in the kid's room or perhaps in a game room or office. i've toyed with the idea of "sticking pins" in the places we've visited, but this idea is so much better. instead of your basic push pin, they've used postcards & pictures to signify special locations. i loved it when the little boy was asked "do you remember where england is?" & he replied "it's the one with the big clock". i seriously LOVE this idea, it goes way behind your basic geography lesson. i found a similar map HERE, unfortunately they are all sold out, although i did spy a few on ebay. obviously there are probably hundreds of map options out there, but i kinda like THIS one, or THIS one. oh, & THIS one too.

i think every mom dreads that sentence. over at our blog Just Spotted, my girlfriend coleen & i are trying to helping moms answer this question. we are moms who seek adventure in the everyday. & Just Spotted is the place where we highlight those adventures. we seek to find the creative, fun, helpful, tasty & stylish offerings of the world around us, which is usually in sunny california. but just because you don't live near us, doesn't mean you can't visit. with recipes, product features & tons of other ideas and tips it's the perfect blog for just about everyone & anyone. that being said, here are some ideas that will jump start your own summer adventures:

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

I could easily plan a whole room around these prints. The colors are vibrant and the creativity is brilliant. I've admired fall down tree for awhile and am now the proud owner of puddle feet pictured below. I thought I was impressed before, but honestly you can't get much better than this?

i'm the first to admit that i'm terrible at finding the deals. but, seeing as we're financing the start of a new business or two, we're really trying to watch our spending. so, i decided it was time to start clipping coupons. i've only been at it a couple of weeks & i'm absolutely amazed. shopping for groceries is always an expensive process... just the necessities can run us well over a hundred dollars. so you can imagine my surprise when i was able to cut that bill in half. with help from THIS website i clip my coupons, shop for groceries & save a buck, or two, or eighty. oh, & for all you nay-sayers out there... let me point out, that i only buy specific brands, & i don't buy anything just because it's on sale. yet, i'm totally able to feed my family & save me some moola. check out today's receipt:no, that's not a mistake, i didn't get it mixed up. i really & truly bought an ENTIRE cart full of groceries (including 3 gallons of milk, apple juice, cereal, tri-tip) for a grand total of $64.85. and yes, with $80.93 is savings, i actually saved more than i spent.

unfortunately for my husband, he chose a profession that requires him to "dress up" most days. luckily, he doesn't mind shopping & is always on the look-out for something a bit different. his latest favorite find is thomas pink, an english shirt & tie company. their men's shirts offer formal, slim fit & casual styles, so there is definitely one for every occasion. & just so you don't feel left out, they make women's shirts as well. my hubby loves the quality & variety that pink shirts offer... they come in twills, royal oxford, poplin & luxurious cottons, in just about every color, including stripes, checks & prints. if that's not enough, you can also custom order ties. anyway, be sure to check outthomas pink. i guarantee your husband will like the way he looks, better yet, you will too. if you hurry, you won't miss out on their fabulous summer sale!

xoxo, K

p.s. ever wanted to know how to tie a tie? instructions for everything from the basics to a full windsor can be found HERE.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

it's a well-known fact that i LOVE my stroller. when i get stopped by people, asking me about it, i've been known to give a pretty persuasive sales pitch (i wish i was on commission). one of my few gripes though has to do with the sunshade... i'm the first to admit that it's far from stellar. thank heavens i've discovered protect-a-bub. they're making it easier for your baby & kids to "weather it all, winter, spring, summer & fall". they sell everything from swim wear to carrier covers. but i'm loving their stroller sunshade attachments. they are made from a material that is UPF 50 +, which protects against 98% of the sun's UVA & UVB rays. It attaches super easily, can remain on when the stroller is folded, & it provides way more sun protection than your average sun shade. &, if you've got one of phil & ted's inline strollers, like i do, they even make a sunshade for the back seat. now, my stroller seriously is perfect!

as a self-proclaimed t-shirt & jeans kinda gal, i'm always thrilled to come across new clothing companies that make anything besides the basic (but sometimes boring) tee. enter design by humans. in their own words, design by humans is:

where you will find unique high-end t-shirts designed by artists from around the world.

t-shirts designed by artists all over the world? already, i'm hooked, but that's not all. at their website, not only can you shop (& with t-shirts added every week, there's always something new in store), but you can also cast your vote for the next design to be printed, or, if you're feeling crafty, you can actually submit your own design, & if possibly win some cash & have your design printed on a t-shirt. be sure to check out design my humans today, you just might find something new to add to your wardrobe.

Monday, July 14, 2008

I've always loved the idea of yoga. I've been to a few classes that made me feel like I could conquer the world and I'd like to have that feeling every day. So I'm on a quest to find the ultimate in "at-home yoga". That's where I need your help, your advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated. We're talking the best gear, clothing, videos, tutorials, books, you name it, I want to know it.

I'm loving letterpress these days, and Sweetbeets is at the top of my list. I've had my eye on these number cards for awhile now and realized they would be the perfect way to help the girls with their numbers, not to mention perfect for framing.

Friday, July 11, 2008

I definitely have an on-again, off-again relationship with Pottery Barn. During the last 3 years it has spent the majority in the off-again, but in the last 6 months they've really stepped it up. When I saw these chairs I was sold! I love them all but especially the yellow one, I have been daydreaming all day about where it could fit in our house. I've come up with a few ideas and now I just have to work on the husband.

once a month i invite just about everyone & anyone i know, over to my house for not yourmama's craft night... instead of your basic sewing or scrap booking, we are trying to venture outside the craft box... share ideas, try some new techniques & hopefully meet a friend or two, in the process. lately, our favorite projects are of the green variety, you know, finding new ways to reduce, reuse & recycle. although most of you probably live to far away to participate in our "not your mama's craft nights", here are some of my favorite green projects, so you can craft along from the comfort of your own home...

fusing plastic (recycle all of those plastic store bags, you know from target, the grocery store, etc., into a reusable shopping or grocery bag, like the one pictured, or a wallet, or a cosmetics bag...)

t-shirt transformations (make a cuter, more fitted shirt, or pants, a bag, or children's clothes. seriously, the possibilities are endless!)

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I've always loved fortune cookies and good horoscopes. While I don't necessarily believe them to be true, they are fun to read and I always do find myself looking to see if I relate in any way. When Cosmic Bebe was brought to my attention, I was highly intrigued. The designs were great, the shirts high quality, but I needed to put them to the ultimate test. My girls birthdays are 2 days apart, giving them the same sign, with night and day differences in personality I didn't think it was possible to cover both girls with one descriptive word. I had to laugh when I found their sign and the descriptive word was friendly. If ever there was one word that described them both it would be friendly and so Cosmic Bebe won me over with one simple word.

You love them too? They have you covered, mommy tees, toddler tees, infant tees and coming soon... maternity tees. Find out your sign is here and see if your personality aligns with the stars.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

While Kelli is no longer with us here at Tangled and True, she still checks in and keeps up to date with what is going on, so please join me in wishing her a happy birthday (her birthday was today).

I love birthdays and there is no better way to celebrate than with cupcakes! So I'll leave you with the best red velvet recipe I've found to date and also a link to some amazing lemon cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting. They won't disappoint!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 ounces water

2 ounces red food coloring

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.

3. Add eggs and blend well

4. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring and add to the butter mixture.

5. Sift flour and salt together into this mixture

6. One at a time, add the following ingredients: buttermilk, vanilla and water.

7. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and the baking soda. Fold it into the cake batter. Make sure it's incorporated but don't beat it.

8. Pour the batter into the cupcake tins. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cake springs back when touched.

9. Remove from oven and let cook for about 10 minutes, then turn the cupcakes out of the tins and onto a rack to finish cooling completely.

shiny, pretty baubles definitely make me go weak in the knees. when i have a free moment or two, i like to create my own. but, i tend to buy them just as often. (when you're a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal, accessories can add that extra umph! that any & every ensemble needs.) anyway, long story short - i am absolutely smitten with jessica's shop lost button studio. for months now, i've worn her simple hoops, just about every day. although, lately, i've been eyeing her sparkle button earring in silver. but seriously, just about everything in jess' shop is lovely... be sure to check out all her beauties, you'll be glad you did. & you'll definitely be thanking me for making the introductions. & if you want to get to know the girl behind the jewelry, visit jessica'sblog - it's full of crafts, recipes & tons of other brilliant ideas.

recently i came across a the this is me journal - a kid's first keepsake journal. carrie (the visionary, creator & extraordinaire of the this is me journal) spent forever searching high & low for the perfect "first journal". she really wanted something similar to what she had as a kid... something for her "little ones" to record their thoughts & drawings. having no success in locating said journal, she created one & then decided to self-publish (wow!). resulting in the this is me journal... the perfect combination of "drawing, writing, creativity & simple scrap booking to capture the years memories through your child's eyes". check out the shop HERE, all the wonderful details & features of the journal, and read up on carrie's journaling tips & hints. also be sure to check out my favorite... the kids' self-portrait gallery.

Monday, July 7, 2008

they say fashions are cyclical... just in the last year or so we've seen skinny jeans, leg warmers, high-waisted jeans, neon & leggings attempt to make a come-back. some of these styles faded quickly (i never saw too many people sporting the leg warmers), & others seem to have lasted (although, i still haven't decided if i'm too old to wear leggings. i used to believe that if you were old enough to wear someting the first time it was in style, you should probably shy away from it during the next fashion craze. but i see girls wearing them, & they are sooo cute. so, like i said, personally i'm still undecided about leggings, although most of the world loves them.) anyway... the true sign that the 80's have returned, is when a brand from my childhood is resurrected. camp beverly hills was the "it" brand when i was kid. so you can imagine what a kick it was to see a camp beverly hills shirt for sale at urban outfitters. you can be sure i'll be purchasing one, at the very least, for nostalgic purposes. get your own camp beverly hills tee HERE.

when it comes to cooking, i'm not very adventurous. i'm not the type of cook who can throw some ingredients together (without a recipe) and have it tastes great. i'm also not the type of cook who can look at a recipe in a cookbook and think "ummm, that sounds good." that's one reason i love food blogs... i can get a good idea of how the recipe turned out, and whether it's worth attempting it. i frequent such foodies and salivate over the pictures and descriptions. they are hard to read without getting hungry. (want to visit a few of my favorites? click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE.)

anyway, one of my goals this past year has been to search high & low, sorting through all of my recipes & trying lots of new ones, in an effort to come up with "the list". you know, the list of "tried & true" meals, the ones that never let you down & are always so yummy that you look forward to dinner every night. and although this isn't my complete list of go-to meals, i thought i'd share some of favorites with you, & maybe you'll share your favorites, with us as well!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

"the coolest announcements you will ever find! styled after gig posters for rock concerts, these announcements will stun your friends and family and stand as a great keepsake for the coolest kid on the block... yours."

i love their unique style, coloring & the fact that each announcement will be customized with a drawing of your own little rocker. imagine the possibilities... birth announcements, birthday invitations, the list could go on & on. with no babies or birthday parties in my near future, i'm seriously considering having posters made of my two little guys - they would be soooo cute hanging in their rooms! check out all their offerings HERE.